Coreopsis Early Sunrise

Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' Tickseed 'Early Sunrise'

Semi-double, ruffled golden-yellow blooms produced in genuine abundance from the first year of sowing — Coreopsis 'Early Sunrise' is the multi-award-winning short-lived perennial that delivers full-strength prairie colour from a single packet of seed, with months of generous flowering and exceptional pollinator value.

Most perennials reward patience — you sow this year, you flower next year. 'Early Sunrise' is the rare exception: bred to flower the very first season from seed, producing semi-double, fully-ruffled golden-yellow daisies on bushy 45cm plants from June right through to the first autumn frosts. This is a genuine Fleuroselect Gold Medal Winner AND All-America Selections (AAS) Winner — twice-recognised by the most prestigious horticultural award schemes for exceptional garden performance, uniformity and reliability. As a short-lived perennial (technically H4 hardy), the plants will return for two or three years before declining, but most of the energy is in that first generous season — which is why it's often grown as a high-performance annual. Drought-tolerant once established. RHS Plants for Pollinators recognised — bees, butterflies and hoverflies all visit in numbers.

A note on growing

To achieve flowers in the first year, 'Early Sunrise' needs an early start. Sow indoors from January to March at 18–22°C. Surface-sow as the seeds need light to germinate; do not cover. Germination takes 14–21 days. Pot on into 9cm pots and grow on in bright cool conditions before hardening off. Plant out after the last frost into full sun and well-drained soil — Coreopsis is genuinely drought-tolerant once established and prefers lean ground over rich. Excessive feeding produces lush leaves at the expense of flowers. Deadhead through the season to extend flowering. The plants may overwinter in mild gardens; protect with a dry mulch in cold inland sites.

Where it shines

In prairie-style and naturalistic plantings where the sunshine-yellow ruffled globes provide reliable colour through three or four months. In cottage borders, where the long flowering season makes it one of the most useful summer-into-autumn perennials available from seed. In drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plantings — once established, 'Early Sunrise' asks for almost nothing. As a cut flower with reasonable vase life, particularly for sunshine-themed bouquets. In wildlife gardens, the high pollinator value is a major plus.

Plant alongside

For complementary colour contrast, the deep violet-blue of Clary Sage 'Oxford Blue' against the gold of 'Early Sunrise' is genuinely spectacular — a classic florist combination. For prairie-style depth, combine with Echinacea purpurea (the magenta-and-copper coneflower) for layered prairie character. In cottage borders, pair with Achillea 'Cloth of Gold' for warm tonal harmony, or Achillea 'Cerise Queen' for warm contrast.